Tuesday, March 31, 2009

A Tour Of Tucson Valley

Today, we took a very beautiful drive through the Tucson Valley. The road carries you through the Old Tucson Movie Studio, a place where John Wayne made four movies, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and finally to the Saguaro National Park.

We stopped at the Tucson Movie Studio to get some information as to whether they were filming movies there now, it turns out they are not. Since we're expecting another couple to join up with us in about a week, we decided not to tour the studio today.

When we stopped at the Sonora Desert Museum there were at least two groups of school children there so we didn't want to be there with all the noise and crowds. Again, we'll come back later.

Finally at the Saguaro National Park we found a place that was not crowded. We arrived just in time to see the 25 minute movie about the Saguaro Cactus and it was really worth our time. The pictures were truly beautiful and the narrative was very informative.

Even though we didn't spend too much time at Tucson Studio or the Sonora Desert Museum, I still took a couple of pictures of our trip which I hope you enjoy. The countryside here is truly beautiful and something you must see.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

San Xavier Del Bac Mission, Tucson, Arizona

In the vast desert on an Indian Reservation just south of Tucson, one would not expect to find a beautiful Church. The San Xavier Del Bac Mission, also known as "The White Dove Of The Desert" is truly an awesome experience.

The "White Dove Of The Desert "was founded in 1692 and built in 1783. One of the best preserved and most exquisite old Spanish Missions in the South West. Established in 1892 by Father Kino it stands in the center of a Papago Indian settlement along the banks of the Sante Cruz River.

A visitor to San Xavier should note that the entire structure is a series of domes and arches and that wood is employed only in windows and door frames.

I hope you enjoy the pictures I took of the Mission, it's really impressive.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Tucson, Arizona

After spending a month in Wilcox, Arizona it was finally time for us to move on. We can't allow grass to grow under the wheels.

We really enjoyed staying at Lifestyle RV Resort, the sites are nice and they have a large indoor pool and a wonderful hot tub. The exercise room has all kinds of equipment so that you can work out and stay in shape.

En route to Tucson we had to drive through Texas Canyon. It has nothing to do with Texas and I don't know why the name but it's really a pretty place with all size boulders that have been there for millions of years.

The park we're staying in here in Tucson has over a hundred Saguaro (pronounced Sue-War-Oh) Cactus and the mountains around us are beautiful. This is quite probably the prettiest park we've ever stayed in. Of course I took a few pictures for your pleasure.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Chiricahua National Monument

As you enter the Chiricahua National Monument you're climbing up a sky island, an isolated mountain range rising above the surrounding grasslands sea. Meadows dotted with cactus and mesquite begins to fill with sycamore, juniper and oak trees. It's the rock pinnacles looming over the road like guardians of the forest that announce you're in Chiricahua Country.

Chiricahua National Monument was established in 1924 to preserve and protect the pinnacles. In 1934 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) took on the job of improving the road and constructing trails and many of the structures. The park comprises 11,985 acres, 86 percent of the area is designated as wilderness. The eight mile scenic drive rises from the grasslands to the summit at Massal Point where you get a true sense of being atop a sky island.

We had a private tour of the Ranch House at Faraway Ranch. Swedish immigrants, Neil and Emma Erickson settled here in 1888. It took Mr. Erickson ten years to build the ranch house. In the early 1900's their daughter and her husband turned the house into a Guest Ranch.

We really enjoyed seeing all the beauty nature has provided and of course I took a couple of pictures and we hope you enjoy them.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

An Enjoyable Trip To Tombstone, AZ

Today we took a scenic drive to Tombstone, AZ. Most people would have taken I-10 over to Benson and then down to Tombstone to have paved road all the way. We decided to take the back roads and see the beautiful countryside. We drove to Pearce Ghost Town and then we took what they call a Primitive Road and believe me it was. It was a gravel road loaded with "washboard" areas but the countryside was beautiful.

After touring Tombstone and since it was getting late in the day, we did take the paved roads back to Wilcox.

Of course I took a few pictures of our little trip and I hope you enjoy them.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Shakespeare Ghost Town, Lordsburg, NM

Shakespeare Ghost Town is the remains of a pioneer southwestern town. From a small settlement on the stage and emigrant trail to California it grew in 1870 with a silver strike and the diamonds swindle to a town of considerable size, around 3,000 people under the name of Ralston City.

In 1879 other mine promoters changed the name of the town to Shakespeare in the Bard's name and under this name it prospered as a mining camp until the 1893 depression.

For more information about the Ghost Town check out their web site. http://www.shakespeareghosttown.com/

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Wilcox Gun Fight Reenactment

Today a group of cowboys held a reenactment of some old gun fights in front of Rex Allen and Marty Robbins museums. They were good but it would have been more enjoyable if the wind hadn't been so high. It made it hard to hear what they were saying, I guess that's the reason the show lasted for just thirty minutes.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Historic Willcox, Arizona

Wilcox, Arizona was founded in 1850 and was mostly a cattle ranch country for many years. The ranchers had to deal with drought, high winds and the raids from Cochise and the Chiricahua (pronounced Cheer-A-Cow-A).

One of the most famous ranchers was Henry Hooker. He owned the ranch where Wyatt Earp left Doc Holiday when he was ill during the Earp, Clanton vendetta. Of course Doc didn't stay there very long and joined Wyatt in the gun fights.

Wilcox is also the home of Rex Allen, the star of many westerns back in the late 40's to mid 50's. His faithful horse KoKo is buried across the street from Rex Allen's museum and upon his death Rex was cremated and his ashes were spread over KoKo's grave site.

Wilcox is not too far from Tombstone, "The Town Too Tough To Die", several times a week they have the reenactment of the "Gun Fight At The O.K. Corral". This is a must place to visit. Also close by is Cochise Stronghold. It's rumored that Cochise and his horse are buried somewhere in the Stronghold, but no one knows where. Close by is the Chiricahua National Monument. It's an 1,985 acre "Wonderland Of Rocks" where incredible rock spires, stone columns and balanced rock can be seen